Hoisting-engine controller



Jung 23, 1925. '15432,138

C. R. WELCH HOISTING ENGINE CONTROLLER Filed Jan. 2, 1924 A 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 im? j' June23,1925. 1,543,138

` C. R. WELCH HOISTING ENGINE: coNTRoLLnR Filed Jan. 2, 1924 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 gvwefwoz K* Clarence M/elc/ SHOM June 273, '1925. 1,543,138

` c. R. WELCH HOISTING ENGINE QDNTROLLBR Filed Jan. 2, 1924 sheets-sheet 4 Clarence Weich Patented June 23, 1925.

UNITED STATES CLARENCE R. WELCIL'OF DENVER, COLORADO.

. HOIsTINCfENGINE CONTROLLER.

Application mea January z, 1924. seran No. 683,940.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, CLARENCE R. WELCH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Denver, in the city and county of Denver and State of Colorado,'have invente-d certain new and useful Improvements in I-Ioisting- Engine Controllers; and-I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact'olescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being hadto the accompanying drawings, and to the characters of .reference marked thereon, which form a partof this specifica"- tion. i

This invention relates to improvements in hoisting engine controllers.

In mines of all kinds where material and men must be hoisted from various distances underground, it isl essential to safety that the action of the hoist shall be controlled so that it will not exceed certain.predeterminedv limits, nor travel too far in either direction.y

It is also essential that the speedof the hoist shall be decreased when it reaches a posi'- tion of from to 100 feet ofthe top or the bottom so that it can 'safely'be brought to a full stop. Where a hoist'is usedfor handling both men and material, it is essential that'it shall be 'operated at a lower speed when themen are raised and lowered than when inert material is handled.- In addition to the above, it is the object of the present invention to improve the construction and operation-of controllers of this general type that have heretofore beeninvented by Ine and for which I have already received Letters Patent.

In order to better and more clearly describe my invention, I shall have reference to the accompanying drawing in which' the preferred embodiment is shown, and in which: Fi g. 1 is a side elevation of my controller showing the same inoperative;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view similar to that shown in Fig. 1, but with parts broken away to better show theconstruction;

Fig. 3 is i a section taken on f line 3-3, Fig. 2; f

Fig. 4 is an elevation showing the reverse side from that shown in Fig. 1 with the cover removed from the casing andi-with other parts broken away;

Fig. 5 is a' section through the centrifugal governor; i*

Fig. 6 is an elevation similar to that shown v The same reference characters will be used to designate the same several views.

Numeral 1 represents a casing Within which some parts of the machinery are parts throughout the housed and which is providedy about its base with outwardly extending flanges 2, by means of 'whichthe housing may be connected to the corresponding ange 3 on the support 4. Extending through the housing and rotatably mounted in bearings 5 and 6 is a shaft 7 that has secured to one end a "sprocket wheel v8. A worm 9 is secured to the shaft between the bearings 5 and 6 land this is operatively related to the worm gear 10 which is non-,rotatably secured tofthe shaft 11, which extends through the casing and has the wheel 12 secured to the outer end thereof. Shaft 7 extends outwardly through the casing and has slidably but nonrotatably connected thereto a double gear 18. Mounted parallelfto the shaft 7 isa shaft 14 toone end of which is connected the gears 15 and 16, which are of different sizes and are so related to the double gear 13 that the latter can cooperate with either. The' double gear has a collar 17 which is provided with an annular groove that is engaged by pin 18 on the end of the arm 19, which in turn is pivotally connected at 2O to the projecting arm Vof the bracket 21. Arm 19 is welded'or otherwiseV secured to the lever 22, tothe outer end of which the weight 23 is adjustablysecured. The. inner end lof lever 22 isl connected by suitable links 123 with thecore 24 of the solenoid'25. VVhe'n the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 4, the shaft 14 is rotated at-what may betermed low speed, but when the solenoid 25 is energized, it tilts lever 22 about its' pivot ina counter-clockwise direction and causes the larger of the double gears to mesh with the gear 15, thusincreasing the gear ratio and causing the shaft to 'rotate at a higher speed relative to the shaft 7. To the inner end of the shaft 7 I secure a bevel` gear 26, which vcooperates with a similar gear 27 on the tubular shaft 28, A

within' which is slidably mounted the rod 429. The tubular shaft 28 extends through tending ange 31 by means of which 1t 1s secured to the upper surface. ot the casing in the manner showirinlfFigl5. Tl-ieiifiper and thelower ends of the bearingBOare provided with raceways fort'heih'alls 32, while collars 33 and 34 are clamped tothe hollow shaft and arev also/provided with recentie all as Sherrie in. Fie 5- 4The 'UP- per end of tubular 28 flrasan 'enlarged portion 85 forthereception of theenlarged end 36of rod Q9, which is provided with sente@ 37 Pivoted yt9 the Quwfly projecting lugs 38 are the governor arms 39 whosejupper ends yare provided vwithlxgear teeth 4Q lthat@cooperate withthe vteeth 37. AcapV 41 closes the opening in the' `upper end of thejenlarged -portion.35.

Fromfthe above itis apparent that by rotating the 7, the `tuhular shaft 28 will also be rotated, therehy rotating the gov ernor;ftheA arrnsof which 'will-move upwardly-fand outward ly.,v thereby fforcing the rod29 downwardly. The .lower end oit rod 29 rests upon'the 42. (Fig. 7")1 on the end lever 43, which -isp-ivoted at 44 ,and carries roller 45 at itsouter end..-

'Whenzthe speedfott'he device. increases, the governor arms move upwardly, thereby moving* the rod 229i downwardly vand the rollerv 45 upwardly,l thereby effecting a con.-

trol that'willV he hereinafter described.

4The sprocket' wheel' 8 is connected to the hoist drum` orother parts that rot-ate at the Y samespeed as 4the drumfand therefore the y shaft@- will rotate at a speed vproportional to uthe speed of the hoist. Since the wheel :12' lis yconnected to worm wheel 1 0 that isl driven direct-ly flrom through the vmedium of the worm 9, itrQtates at'an angular velocity that is. proportional to the( i teeth. AL'In the drawingl have shown 8 teeth .on each side or' the arm. LThe four 'teeth nearest. the center are curved "on a shorter radius of curvature than the four outer teeth, "in the manner most clearlyshown in Fig. 1. Above the weight 48 1 secure to the arm 46 three weights 50,51 and 52, each of which is slidalole lon the 'armand isjjnorvrmally'supported bya pin '53, Securedto the upper1 side of weight 48l and projecting upwardly therefrom, one on each side of the arm' :arepins'I 54, whiff-haare atlaptvdto engage"v the -lower side of the weight "50 and ralis'enthe same against the action of gravity inthemaiinrhwirin Fig. 6. The lower surface O the arcuate member 49 is circular andll'iesdire'citly over the roller 45, consequently the roller will contact with and raise thearcuate minherwhen the speed is great enough to permit the. ..governor to tilt the lever43 sutticiently ito,acc(implish this. As a matter of fact7'whenever' lthe controller is operating? even at very low speeds,A the al cuate member 4:9I rests 011th@ Yeller 45 and its distance 'from thefperiphery of wheel "12' dependsH upon' the @position "of @the ago vernor arms 39. lf Nthe governor had la constant weight against which to act ithe arouate rmember .'49 would move' upwardly `more on less in accordance with the speed hui ;y as it moves upwardly the ends of-rods 54 willengage the weightfdwhich `will increase `the resistance against which the governormust work. Therefore, Ithe member 49 will remain Stationary until fthe. speed 'hasfincreased sulciently to .enable the, governor -to llift weight 50. `-VIhenlfthere ywill be a ,gradual upward movement of the arcuate.

segment-49 until weight 51 l engages weight 52 when theparts will nremain stationary until theJ .speed `increases `:suliciently `to raise thisweightalso. i lIt-,jwillbe seen-.i`rom the abo-ve description that yit the., governor y-is subjected to a. gradual -constantincrease in speed, the arcuate seg-ment 49 not rise at all :times fatfa rate proportional to thel increase 'in speed, but v that it will remain ista,-

@tionary torl a short .period wheneverfonef or "the other ofthe three 1weights 5Q,V51and f52 are'addedto the massfof 'weight 48. l llnflifke manner, when there-'is' a; negative acceleration or slowing down of the *.-speechthe fgovfernor 'will Afall, graduallyfffor awhile and 4then 'stop until the` speed-hasf diminished sulliciently to overcome the reduction in -resistance due to ,the tact that weight '52is removed from effective participation and rests upon afpin 53.V There willthenf-hfe a :gradual flowering' y'ofthje segment '49 andthe governor, arms-until weight '51 reaches and restsupon itS Snpportinggp-in 253g; when the parts will remain ystatic nary until the rspeed has decreasedl sofas-to compensate for 4the yremoval' of-the weight.` This s tepfby step; .raisin'geandflowering of; the segment 49 is 'of great importance, asHitfincreasesfthe speed rof .operationeof the controller f by preventing the governor arms from sinking too iai' ldown,A which would mean-that if the'rs'peed should startvk increasing, more time would he required for the parts -to reachoperative position.

` The -wheel12is 4:provided with fa plurality of notches 55 ony its outer peripheryand-a 'lon leu

lugs 59, which are secured to the wheel rim by screws 60, which cooperate with the holes 56. These pawls are so located on the wheel that they will engage one or the other of the shoulders 61, when the hoist approaches near to the limith of its travel, whereby any further movement will move arm 46 out of vertical position to a position somewhat like that shown in Fig. 6. The pawls 57 will scarcely ever engage the shoulders 61, as this can only happen if the speed of the hoist is so low that the governor is substantially inactive. If the hoist is running at ordinary speed, the pawls will engage the teeth near the end and if the speed is so low that the pawls do not engage the teeth near the end, they will catch the teeth near the center, which project closer to the wheel 12. As the hoist approaches the end of its travel, it will be necessary for the engineer tol slow down gradually so that the toothed segment will move downwardly a suicient distance to prevent the pawls 57 from engagingy the same. The arcuate segment 49 carries a pin 62 (Figs. 1 and y2), which is adapted to engage with any one of the teeth and will so engage on excessive speeds. In Fig. 6I have shown a mechanism which vtends to hold the arm 46 in vertical position.y This consists of a member 63 projecting from the Side of the ring 47. This member has a triangular notch 64uwhich cooperates with a spring-pressed plunger 65. The reaction between plunger 65 and the sides of the notch 64 tends to maintainthe parts in such a. position that the rod 46 is vertical. An arm 66 is secured to the ring 47 and has its upper end lying over the block of insulating material 67, yupon which are secured electrical contacts 68, 69 and 70. To the arm 46 I secure anv v insulating member 71 which -carries two spacedk electrical contacts 72 and 73. To weight4 52 I secure a contact 74 which is adapted to engage and electrically connect members 72 and 7 3 when weight 52 is resting on its supporting pin 53. On theweight 52 I secure an insulating 1 member 7 5, to which is attached acontact 76 that is adapted tov engage weight 51, when the latter is raised from its supporting pin 53. This forms a switch which closes an yalarm circuit whenever the weight 51 is raised a suilicient distance to makeconnection with the contact 76. The object of this will be hereinafter explained. e

Referringnow more particularly to Fig. 8, numerals 77 and 78 are two electromagnets whichare preferably connected in multiple and fed from a source 78 of electrical en ergy. A lever 79 is pivoted at 8O to asupporting bracket 81. An armature 82 is connected to one end of said lever and cooperv ates with the magnet 7 8; To the other end of the lever thereris secured 'a weight 83, which tends to rotatethe. lever in a clock- To the free end of the lever 88 a weight 90 is connected.` This weight tends to move the lever clockwise and partially close the valve 87, but is normally restrained by the action of the magnet 77. A rod 91 is connected to the lever 79 and to the brake of the hoist, as

well as to the throttle valve in such a manner that when the magnet 78 is de-energized, the weight 88, acting through the lever 79 androd 91, will cut off the power and apply the brake, thereby stopping the hoist. When the lever 88 is vin the position shown in Fig. 8, valve 87 is wide open and the brake is applied quite suddenly, but if magnet 77 is de-energized as well as Vmagnet 78, then the brake will be more gradually applied. It is my object to stop the hoist under the followingl conditions. j

(a) When the hoist has reached the eX- treme limit of its travel; (b) if a dangerous speed iseattained between landings; (c) if the speed is not sufficiently reduced when the hoistapproaches within 100` feet or so otl the extreme limit of its tra-vel; and (d) if for any reason an emergency should require the machinery to be stopped suddenly.

kThat portion of the travel oit' ther hoist which lies within 50 to ..100 feet of the .eX- treme limit of its travel, is subject to the overspeed and emergency control only. The voverspeed control, as above explained, operates through the governor vwhich lifts the several weights in seriatim. As long as the speed is sufcient to raise the weight 50, only theny nothing happens, but when the speed increasesfuntil weight 51 is moved upwardly a/suiicient distance to cause it to come into electricalcontact with'spring 76', the circuit to the alarm 93 is closed. ,This callsV the attention of the engineer to thev factthat the .speed is approaching the danger'point. If the speed increases ysufficiently to cause weight 52 to be moved upwardly some disidea is to apply the-brakes:gradually when 1 the controller Ais caused to operate through the overspeed control. It anyone of the vswitches 94, of which there may be any number, locatedl at strategic points, are

opened, the electromagnet 78 will be detance, the contact 74 will disconnect conenergized,` thereby #releasing the armature 82 and "the brakes ,will be suddenly applied. Since'magn'et?? vvis notide-energizeth except by the overspeed control,"the dashpot will operate With theby-pass "wide opeirandjthe action oflt'he controller `in cutting 'oif 'the power and applying Lthe brakes will :be almost instantaneous.

Should the engineer neglect to decrease the `speed vvhen 'thehoist approaches the danger Zone, then one orthe other'ofA pa'vvls L57 Willengage a ltooth ontlie arcuateLsegment' 492m lli'e mannerLslioWn'iniFig. (i, and move the 'rod '46 from vertical position. `This moves' the contact 'arm 1 G6 andl 'as Isoon a's 'this becomes discoi'niected'ffrom .contact '69, the electromagnet 78 will liefde-energ,i-zed,'bringing the hoist toa sudden'stop. Elt will be n'otedthat the ratchet teeth on the `arcuate member 4:9 `are islightly lliiglrer Vto- WarLdthecenter. This requires the engineer to gradually decrease the speed toward :the end of the hoist-"travel "It the pengrineer should neglectfto stop the hoist 'vh'en'it reaches the lend oi' its' travel, one or. the otherY of pavvls 57 will engage one *of 'the shoulders 61 and lmovejthe contact varm 6G outjof electrical 4contact With 69, lthereby causing the stop mechanism tol operate by deeenergizing the magnet '78.

' When the-'hoist'isfto be'usedfor'handling men,:it isnecessary to yoperate-it ata much 'slower speed. @In 4order to ichange lthe adjustments 'of the controller so f that y it will become 'operative 'at' lovverh'oisbspeed, Jl. change the 'gear ratio 'l retvveen shafts '7 land 514. This -is accomplished by moving the double gear 13 so that fthe'larger gear Will operate With the gear 15 oni-'the-'shaft 14. lThis Vcauses the "governor .to rotate Afaster' with the YVsaine speedzof they hoistA and conse- .'quently it Will" cause ythe controllerto be- `come active at much lowerihoist-speed; The gear 13 is preferably shifted by-el'ectric'ally operated means, (such x as the "electromagnet 25, which is connected to ajsource of 'electrical energy j and is controlled'by anormally .open switch ,96. A signal jlainp 97 is located at. somelr point in'theshaft andWill fbe illuminated `Whenever'the `magnet 25 is energized.

Should lthe engineer Vstartj the hoist While loadedwith Inen Without first Aenergizing Vmagnet 25, the men, noticing .that-the lamp '-97 was darkfcould stop the hoist by ,merely iopeningione ofthe circuit clo'sers 94, which may be located'on the hoist for this purpose.

lvva'nt to call ,particular'attention tothe 'fact that I 'have ,provided 'a plurality ,of Weights 50, 51 and 152, whichV are normally "free from the governor, but Wliich are added. to the resistance Vagainst :which the governor operates Vasjtli'evspeed incre-ases. "Ihispermits the governor arms ,39'to raise 'to a considerable height,'even 'at compara- Ains-Larrea 'tivelyy ioW 'speed lso `that ifa rsudden Veiner vgency arises they @Willlbe in position `tore spend quickly. The governor-s -eenstruc- Ltion' Aissu'chfthat if Ait issu'bjec-ted toa univforni acceleration, it 4vWll---inove' in :succes sive steps, due to the *fact --thatithe resistanceagainst Which it operates' is not constant f' or increased n-niforinly, but fby separate steps.

'-From the "above A-it will lloe ev-ident Ythat-*I :have produced f an improved `hoisting engine controller that ("@f'canI "be madef operative by merely pressing a button, ofavhichthere 4may nbe seiferal-flelcated vatyvarious' points; "that will fstopfthehoist almost 4instanv-taneoulsly --Whenever anemergency arises, when* Athe end of the travel fis :reached or if the engineer neglects to 'reducewthe-speed `when the' hoist approaches nearthex end-oft' itgstravel; and (c) which Will stopithe'hoist V -at 'any-part of its travel-if 'the-,speed is t eo great.

@Having fnovv described -my *inventiom `what claimas new is:

j'-1. A controller forhoistingengines having ajdrum,-comprising, in combination, y-a centrifugal govefriionineans for rotatingithe governor at aspeedproportionallto the speed of the drum, means for stopping fthe drum, said last named `mea-ns comprising ja "mechanismfor cuttingoffthe pow-erfand' lor'ap- 'pl-ying a--bralre -to-the"dr um, means coinprising an felectromagnet ,or holding the stepping means inoperative, means''forfdeenergizing said electromagnet Whenever the speed f of the --d-ruin exceeds a lpredetermi-ned amount, @said de-energizing `means compris- .ing -a switch 'connected to :the energizing cir'- cuit-`of the electromagnet, "and means 1cocpe-rat-ingwvinth the governor' for operating ,said syvitch and V-`rde-'eneng-izingsaid electroina-gnet A when 'the Aspeed lexceeds .a predetermined lvaine, vsaidgovernorhavingv resistance ineanswhich is applied in'steps ywherebyr Athe governor acts. intermittently "when subjected toa-constant rotary acceleration.

2. A -controllerfriior Vhoisting engines fhaving- A'ay drum, 1 a centrifugal governor, means for-rotating lthe governor at KVa .speed proportional to the speed joflthe drum, means for --I-stopping the drum, said last-named means comprising a mechanism i for cutting off'l'the fpovver, and for, applying la brake'jto the dr-um, -means comprising an electromagnet for holding the stopping means infoper'ative, meansf'for deenergi'zing said Jelec- Itrofmagnet;Whenever the speed of-the-,drum exceeds ai predetermined amount, *said last- 'nam'edlineans comprising `a switch connected Ato -l-the energizingcirciiit of the 'electromagnet, coopera-ting -vvith the vgovernor ffor operating 'said-switch and vde#energizing lsaid electromagnet "When f the speed exceeds predetermined Vvalue, said governor Yhaving resistance fmeans Which-'isa-pplied in steps whereby the governor acts intermittently when subjected to. a constant rotary acceleration, means for causing said stopping means to become operative at a lower speed towards the ends of the hoist travel, said means comprising a pendulum, and means for normally holding the same in vertical position.

3. A controller for hoisting engines having a drum, comprising in combination, a centrifugal governor, means for rotating the governor at a speed proportional to the speed of the drum, means for stoppingthe drum, said last named means comprising a mechanism for cutting off the power and for applying a brake to the drum7 means comprising an electromagnet for holding the stopping means inoperative, means for de-energizing said electromagnet whenever the speed of the drum exceeds a predetermined amount, said de-energizing means comprising a switch connected to the energizing circuit of the electromagnet, means cooperating with the governor for operating said switch and de-energizing said electromagnet when the speed exceeds a predetermined value, said governor having resistance means which is applied in steps whereby the governor acts intermittently when subjected to a constant rotary acceleration, and means comprising a pendulum for causing said stopping means to become operative at a lower speed towards the ends of the hoist travel, means for normally holding the pendulum in vertical position, a pawl mounted to rotate about a central pivot at a speed proportional to the speed of the hoist, an arcuate toothed segment secured to the pendulum and slidable thereon, means operable bythe governor for moving said segment toward or away from the locus of the pawl, and a switching device operable by the pendulum as it moves from its vertical position, said switching device being adapted to de-energize'the electromagnet.

4. A controller for hoisting engines having'a drum, comprising, inkcombination, a centrifugal governor, means for rotating the governor at a speed proportional-to the speed of the drum, means for stopping the drum, said last named means comprising a mechanism for ci1tingo-`f`the power and for applying a brake to the drum, means comprising an electromagnet for holding the stopping means inoperative, means for de-energizing said electromagnet whenever the speed of the drum exceeds a predetermined amount, said de-energizing means comprising a switch connected to the energizing circuit of the electromagnet, means for retarding the action of the stopping mechanism, said retarding means comprising a dash pot provided with a by-pass, a valve in said by-pass, means comprising an electromagnet for retaining said valve in fully open position, means tending to move the valve to partially closed position when the last-named electromagnet is de-energized, means for de-energizing the lirst-mentioned electromagnet when the hoist reaches the limit of its travel, means for de-energizing the first-mentioned electromagnet when the hoist approaches the limit of its travel at too great .a speed, and means for de-energizing both-of said electromagnets when the speed of the drum exceeds a maximum.

5. A controller for hoisting engines having a| drum, comprising in combination, a centrifugal governor, means for rotating the governor at a speed proportional to the speed of the drum, means for stopping the drum, said last named means comprising a mechanism for cutting off the power and for applying a brake to the drum, means comprising an electromagnet for holding the stopping means inoperative, means ior de-energizing said electromagnet whenever the speed of the drum exceeds a predetermined amount, said de-energizing means comprising a switch connected to the energizing circuit of the electromagnet, means for retarding the action of the stopping mechanism, said retardingy means comprising a dash pot provided with a by-pass, a valve in said by-pass, means comprising an electromagnet for retaining said valve in fully open position, means tending to move the valve to partially closed position when the last-named electromagnet is de-energized, means for de-energizing the first-mentioned electromagnet when the hoist reaches the limit of its travel, means for de-energizing the first-mentioned electromagnetv when the hoist approaches the limit of its travel at to great a speed, means for de-energizing both of said electromagnets when the speed of the hoist exceeds a maximum, said lastnamed means comprising the centrifugal governor, and means comprising a plurality of weights that are added in seriatim to the governor whereby it will operate in a series of steps when subjected to a uniform acceleration.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

CLARENCE R. WELCH. 

